Ball game apparatus



Aug. 28, 19'28.

J. "A, EKELUND BALL GAME APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 10, 1927 AugQZB, 1928. f 1,682,170

n J. A. EKELUND 1 BALL GAME APPARATUS Filed June 10. 1927 :s sheets-snm 2 Aug. 28, 192s.

. 1,682,170 J. A. l-:KELUND BALL GAME APPARATUS Filed June'l 10. 1927- s sheets-sheet s runner;

Patented Aug. 28, 17928.

1,682,170 PAT-ENT orricis.-g

JOHN`A'. EKELUND, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

BALL GAME APPARATUS.

Appnemonfum June 1o, 1927'. seriai No'. 197,859'.

rIhis invention relates to toy ball game apparatus and particularly toimprovements yon my toy baseball gaine apparatus patented by meon MayV 24, 1910, PatentvNo.` 959,427.

e Theobject of this inventionis to .provide certain new improvements on my apparatus described and claimed in they above entitled patent.. f f

To'this end the invention consists inr the novel devices and novel conibinations'of de-V vices defined in the claims and described in the following specification made connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference Characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views and, in which, l v

Fig. 1 is a planview of the assembled apparatus ready `to be used for playinga ganieof ball;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, as indicated bythe arrows andl showing the playing field with the other parts removed; y p A s Fig. 3 is a verticalsection taken through the playing field andillustrating the pitcher and pitching mound in right side elevation, certainof the movable parts being shown in one position in full lines and in another position in dotted lines; s

Fig. 4 is a'vertical section taken through the playing field and showing the pitcher and pitching mound in .rear end elevation;

Fig. 5 isa horizontal section taken onthe linevof Fig..3, as indicated by thearrows Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the catcher detached froin the playing field; y 1 l,

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation of t-he detached catcher illustrating. certain of theparts in full lines in one position and in dotted lines in another position;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation illustrating the batter detached; i v Y Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9,9 of FigQS as indicated by the arrows; Fig. 10 is a plan view looking down on the batter and catcher plate with the batterand catcher removed, certain of the movableparts being illustrated in one position in full 'lines' and in another position in dotted lines;

Fig. 11 is a view in sideelevation ofthe parts illustrated in Fig. 10; y Fig. 12 isa plan view of one of the flelders.; Fig. 13 is a View ink side elevation of a fielder; Y

I Fig. 14 is a view inside elevation of a base Fig. 15 is a View in front elevation of a base rurlineigandlr y j ig 16 isa erspective'view of a t e of ball that mayliie used. f yp f Beferringto the drawings, a. square board 20V is illustrated having secured thereto at its upper side a baseball playing field21` and hav# ing marginal upwardly extending flanges 22v above the playing field 21 for confining the ball in its movements upon the playing field.- IPhe playing field 2l Vis preferably composed of sheetiriaterial and has a plurality of up' pressed ribs 21y provided therein which define a baseball diamond 23, foul space 24 and a baseball outfield divided into 'a plurality of pockets p25*'.l The diamond 23 has `bases stamped or 'otherwise formed thereon, the re* spective bases having the characteristics 1, 2, 3 and 4 thereon to indicate first, second and third base and the home plate respectively. Pockets 25 have various indicia thereon such as 1 B. H., 2 B. H., 3 B. H. and H. R.; indicating respectively one base hit, two 'base-liit, threerbasevhit and honie run, while the dianiond 23 has marked thereon a characteristic sii'ch'as 1 B.` H. indicating one base hit. The saidl charact'eristicsare adapted to designate the 'type of hit that 'abatter has made when the ball lights in one of the pockets 25 or'on the diamond 23 after having been struck by the' batter. YIf desired., certain of the pockets 25 inay be provided with various other types of designating characteristics `toy indicate other possible playsin .a gaine of baseball. Secured to the playing field 21 at vpoints on a number of the pockets 25 are the headedstuds f Infield and outfield players 27 Y are 26. adapted to be secured to the studs. 'Each player 27 is formed preferably from sheet mai terial and isv provided with a flat bottom portiontupwardly and rearwardly inclined back portion, side and front flangesand a keyway 'in its bottoni portion whereby the player can not situated on oneof the bases. Each of the base runnersy 2,9 is preferably formed from foulspace 24, and base runners 29 are normally adapted to rest on the bench 28 'when hereinafter described.

immediately behind second base son that theV central portion of the channel will stand upwardly from the playing field, the said cen'- tral portionv being provided `with a small rectangular aperture a' adjacent its rear end. pitcher base plate 31 is pivoted bythe pivot 32 to the pitching mound30 adjacent its rear end and the plateis provided, with an arcuate' slot v31a adjacent its forward end throughwhich a bolt 33 extends, the said bolt extending through the `mound 30 and having a co-operating nut therebelow A washer is provided-between the head of the bolt 33 and the plate31. By unloosening the bolt 33 and swinging plate 31 about its pivot 32, the plate may be set at various angles with the mound 30,`whereupon bytightening the bolt 33 the plate maybe secured in a desired position in respect to the mound. Plate 31`has a portion3l1 struck up therefrom at the'left side to form a latch with which a hook 34 pivoted on the pivot 32 is adapted to co-operate. An irregular shaped opening 31c is provided in the plate 31and a small rectangular opening 31d is cut `adjoining the opening 31c and Vapproximately alining with the opening 30a to form a shoulder 31", the use of which will be An angularpitcher securing bracket 35'V having an irregular shaped horizontalV flange adapted to releasably iit within the irregular Shaped opening 31" in plate 31 and tol rest on top of the pitching mound30 is provided.

VThe hook 34 is adapted to be swung over the horizontal liange of bracket 35 to releasably secure the same to plate 31.f A bolt 36 extends through the vertical iange of bracket 35 and has pivoted thereonthe body of an upstanding toy pitching figure formed from the two plates 37 and 38. Bolt 36 is of considerable length and carries between its nut and the plate 37 a sleeve 39 about which a coiled torsion spring 40 extends.- VThe spring 40 has its lower end Vhooked over a horizontal arm 35a formed on the vertical liange of bracket 35v and the other end of the spring is held by one of a series ofspaced up-struck tabs 37fl formed in plate 37 The torsion spring 39 is adapted to act to exert resilient tension on the pitcher bodyto carry the same from a rearward position as indif cated in full lines, F ig. 3, to a forward posi- V tion abutting the arme'l 354 as indicated in dotted lines, F ig. 3. A pitching arm 41 of angular shape and having a square box like ball carrying hand is secured to the plates 37 and 38 between the same by means of a bolt V42 carrying a wing nut; By means of the wing nut, the arm 41 may be loosened or tightened in respect to plates 37 and 38 to vary the position of the same. A lever 43V` is pivoted at its forward end to the bottom of .the 'platesV 37 .and 38 and is provided with a tooth 43a adapted to drop by gravity into opening 31dl to engage with the shoulder 31 when the pitcher is rearwardly swung to the positionindicated in full lines Fig. 3. The tooth 43a of lever 43 may be released from engagement with the shoulder 31's by means of 'a trigger 44 pivoted to anupstanding arm 31f at the rear end of plate 31. yA ball 45 of cubular shape having rounded corners is provided whichgis adapted to begcarried bythe hand formed in the pitching 'arm `41 andto be pitched 'straight forwardly from the hand by the pitcher.V Considering the pitcher parts to be in the position indicated inl full lines, Fig. 3, with' the tooth 43a'of lever 43 engaging shoulder 31e and theball 45 carried by pitching arm 41, as trigger v44 is pressed to release tooth 43a from shoulder 31e, the torsion sprin g 40 will carry the figure forwardly to the dotted position Fig; 3, whereupon; as the plates 37 and 38 strike the arm -35I the ball will be projected intorthe air. By properly adjusting the angular position of the plate31 with the pitching mound 30, `the pitcher can be adjusted sothat the y'hall as thrown will be carried directly over the home plate. By raising or lowering the arm 41 the pitcher can be' adjusted so that the height of the'ball as it is thrown over the home plate will be such that a batter to be hereinafter described can strike the same. Byengaging thefupper end of torsion spring 40 with dif` ferent tabs'37a greater or less tension 'can be placed on thespring thereby causing the ball to move faster or slower, as the same is pitched. j Y 1' A catcher and batter plate 46V is secured to the" foul portion 24 of the playing field 21 to extend at one side of and behind the home plate of the diamond. lA lug 47 is vertically pivoted `onV plate 46 immediately behindethe home plate and the said lug has an upstand ing portion 47a to "which alt'oycatcher figure is adapted to be .detachably secured. The lug 47 has alpin hole extending therethrough whereby the'lug may be secured to the playing lield in a desired pivoted position. The catcher ligure is formed from a spring clip consisting ofthe twofclamping jaws 48 and 49 pivoted together adjacent their medial portions,rt,he Uf-shaped bar spring 5() acting between the upper inner sides ofthe clamping jaws 48 and 49 and being held from removal in position by a small flange at the upper end of clamping jaw 49, and a basket 51 horizontallyI Vpivoted to forward proj ections on the jaw 49 and made to simulate the arms of a catcher.V The spring clip formed by the clampingjaws'48 and 49 is adapted to be detachably secured to the upstanding portion ofthe lug 47 SQ that the two jaws 43 SII llt

' erallyhit the same and there will thus be very littlerebound to the ball. 7

Abell crank lever 52 is pivoted tothe plate 46 at one side 'of the home plate. One lof the' arms of the bell crank lever is provided with 'an upstanding lug 452a while the other arm thereof isconnected tofo'ne end cfa link 53 secured at its other end .to the outer end of af lever 54 pivoted at its inner end tothe plate 46. A coiled tension spring 55 is securedat one endto the link arm of the bell crank lever 52 and is fixed at its 'other vend to an up'jstruckfhook 46a on the plate 46. The toy batter figure is formed 'from a spring c lip similar-to the spring cli forming a portion of the catcher and inclu es clamping jaws 56 and 57 pivoted together and normally being adapted to be held together by the'U-shaped bar spring 58 situated above the said pivot and being held in plac'e by vaflange formed at the top of the jaw 57. An angular plate 59 is secured by nutted bolt 60 'to a projecting ear at theforward s i'deof jaw 57 andfa bat 61 is secured at its innerlend between, the angular plate v59and the jaw 57 by'lmeans'of the bolt 60. AV lip is provided at the outer end of angular plate 59 against which the nut of bolt60 is adapted to abutV to hold thesame from Arotation as the bolt proper is turned. By -unloosening- Ythe bolt 60l from its nut 'the bat l61`ca'n'be raised or lowered -as desired to situate the vouter end thereof' at various heights in respect to the home plate. The

spring clip formed the clampingfjawsl andv 57 may be detachablyA engagedwith the lug 52a by pressing thetwo upper ends of position illustrated tension to swing the bell crank the .j aws together and placing the lower ends' ofthe jaws over the lug 52a whereuponV by releasing the jaws the spring `58 `will cause the same to tightly clamp against the lug 52a.

To impart batting like action to.' the batter, considering the parts to be in the position indicated in full lines Figs. l and 10, the operatorY will grasp lever 54 and will swing the same and parts connected thereto to the in dotted vlines F ig. 10. The bell crank lever 52 and the batter connectedthereto. will then beheld under spring forwardly. The lever 54 will then be released, whereupon the'spring will rapidly force thebell crank lever forwardly thereby imparting a batting actionf'to the batterv and; causing'the bat 6l to be swung across thefhome plate.` The forward movementof lever 54'will be limited by an upstruck lug 62 formed in yplate 46.l

" A. back stop 63 of considerable height 'and formedfrom card boardor similar sheet ma- 'terial may be detachably held behind the home plate against the home plate corner flanges 22'by means of lugs 64,. The said back stop will act to catchv foul balls and will assist in confining the ball tothe playing e field.v

Although' various gamesk may be played with the present invention the same is particularlyadapted for playing the game of baseball. 'lhe game may be played according to the established rules of the national 'game modified tosuitl the requirements of a miniature ball. game. Either one or more operators may play the game." Ifv two are playing the game, one will control the pitcher at a given time while another will control the batter; It

will be the-'object of the pitcher operatorto so cause the ballto be pitched as to deceive the i batter operator and to prevent him from operating the'batting mechanism to hit the ball'. O n the otherfhand, it will be the object of the operator of the batter to operate the batting mechanism to hit the ball as pitched and makev as many runs as possible. As the ball is pitched, the operator of the batter will release the batting mechanism to cause the batter to y strike at the ball. If theball ishit and comes to rest within the diamond 23 or within any of the various' pockets 25, the batter is considered to have made a base hit anda base runner 29 ywill be used for indicating positions ofvarious basev runners on the bases. If the ball when hit lights` in one of the pockets formed by the infieldcrs and outfielders 27, the

` batter will be'considered to be out. If the ball lightsv within the foul space 24 a foul ball will beicalled lon the batter. Due to thefact that the ball 45 is of cubical lshape with rounded edges the kvsame will not vroll or bounce to any great extent after being hit and the ball will thus be retained on the playing field. vWhen it is desired to putv the game away, the

batter and catchermay be readily removed from the playing field by pressing the upper vends yofthe clamping jaws 48 and 49'and 56 and 57 vrespectively together, thereby releasingvv the clamping jaws from the lugs 47'a and 52l respectively. The basket'51 of the catcher can then be ls wungover the top of the spring clip and the two players can be stowed away in a very small space. To detach the pitcher from'the playing field, the hook 34 will be unlatched from the latch 31", whereupon the bracket 35 may be vremoved from the aperture 31 in plate 31. The various infielders and outfielderscan be removed from the studs 36 byforcing the studs out of the keyways formed in the players 27. Thebase runners 29 are, ofcourse, bodily removable from the playing field. All the parts when removedY ymay be packed ina very small space and the parts can be removed or set upin very short order.

' Practically-'all the parts ofthe device can.v

be stam ed out from sheet material and, ac.,-`

cording y, the apparatus can be very quickly and cheaply made. A toy game will be provided which in addi- 5 tion to affording keen amusement, will require considerable skill to play. Y

' It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement andproportionslof the various parts Without departing from the scope of the present invention. v

What is claimed is: l 4

t 1.1111 a toy baseball game, a detachablebat` ter comprising apair of clamp arms pivoted together and af spring normally forcing Vsaid clamp arms towards each other to engage a fixed support, whereby saidv clamparms can be detachably engaged from the support, and a bat `carried by .said clamp arms.

` 2.1n a toy ball game apparatus,-an upstanding vertically pivoted lug adapted to be turned in one direction to put the saine under spring tension'to turn in an opposite dir ection, a spring clip forming the body portion l of a toy batter ligure, and releasably engageable with said lug and a bat carried by said ,3.V In a toy baseball game apparatus, a vertically pivoted bell crank lever having an up. turned end formed on one of thearms thereof,

a coiled spring fixed at oneend and'secured at its otherend to the jother arm of said lever, a

spring clip forming the body portion of a batter and adapted to be releasablyengaged with the upturned portion :of the said first mentioned arm vand a bat carried by said spring clipwhereby as said leveris moved in one direction against the tension of said spring and released, said spring Will act to impart batting like movement to saidbatter. 4. The structure defined in claim 3, said bat being adjustable Vto position the outer end thereof at various heights in respect to said vspriiigclip` A A 5. In a toy baseball game apparatus, a batter comprising a substantially vertcial up#` standing portion having a portion at its upper end of substantially angular shape in horizontal cross section, an angular plate .fitting against said angular portion on the inner side thereof and having an inturned lip at its outer end,'saidportion and said plate being aper-y tured to receive abolt,` a bat positioned be? tween saidmember and said plateandalso having a bolt aperture therein, and anutted bolt extending through the apertures o fy all said members, the outer surface of the nut of said bolt beingadaptedto strike the lip of said plate to hold the nut from rotation as the bolt is turned, wherebv said nut canbe loosened and tightened to position said bat at various angles with said member. v t

6.111 a toy ball game apparatus, a playing field and a. catcher adapted to catch a pitched bell, said. @atelier comprising anjupstanding 4lug secured to said playingvfield, a spring clip forming `thebody'of said catcher andadapted to be relea-sablyA engaged with said lug, and arms securedtosaid spring clip and form` ing a basketfor catching a ball, whereby said catcher ican be attached to or removed from said playing field.4 l i 7. The structure defined in `claim 6', said arms beingpivotally connected to said spring clip, whereby thesaine maybe swung upwardly to lie substantially in the same plane as said springclip. 'i V i 8. The combination in a toy-ball game apparatus, cfaA catcher adapted 4to catch a' pitched ball 'and `comprising an upstaii'ding lug,fsaid lug being eccentrically pivoted on said playing ieldfor turning'nioveiiient in a horizontal planein respect tothe field, a spring clip adapted to be releasably engaged with said lug to extend upwardly therefrom, said spring clip forming the body lirtion of a lcatcher andcatcher arms pivoted to said cliprto forni a pocket for catching fandfrel taining the ball, said spring clip beingQdeV tacliablyengageable withv said lug.

9. Ina'toy ,ball game apparatus, a pitching mound, a plate pivoted thereto. and adapted to beturned aboutsaid pivot in a horizontal plane and secured in adesliredposition, a pitcher adapted to be secured to said plate and means for operating said pitcher to cause the saine topitch aball.' c y 10. Ina toyb ll gaine apparatus, a`pitch` ing mound, a pitcher holdingplatefniouiited on said mound,fsaid plate having anfirregular shaped slot formed therein and an upy wardly bent `portionat one sideV of said slot .forming a latch, a pitcheriigure having an irregular shaped base portion'matching with' the irregular shaped slot and detacliably iitting therein, a pivoted liooksecured to said plate and adapted to be swung over-said base portion to'fproject into lsaid latch, and means for operatingsaid igur'eitocause the' saine to'pitcha ball. l. y

ll.. a toy ball gameapparatuaa platev having a shoulder formed thereon, avertical portion upstanding from said plate, a pitcher body portion pivoted to said vertical portion, a ball carrying arm secured to said'b'odyportion adjacent its upper end,a lever pivoted at one gend to 'the lower vend of said'body portioinlsaid leverV having a projecting'tooth adapted tofbe lengagedV with said shoulder' wheiithe ballcarrying'arni of saidbody por# tionisV rearwardly 'swung about said pivot. a torsion coiled spring for putting saidbody sol portionfunderV tension" when 'rearwardly swung and a trigger v for disengaging said lever froml said shoulder to allow said spring to actto carry. the body portion forwardly and give pitching actionvtoV said arm.

,12. Thev structure definedin clai ii, siii" body lportion Vhaving a pluralityof spaced upstaiidngportins with any @ne -afl-Whh one end of said spring is adapted to be engaged tovariably tension the said spring.

13. In a toy ball game apparatus, a playing field, a pitcher adapted to pitch a ball, a

batter adapted to bat the -ball and a pluralityv of players situated in the ield, each of said players being formed from sheet material and having a flat bottom portion adapted to be secured to the bottom of the field, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion at the rear of said bottom portion, and side and front portions extending upwardly from said bottom portion a short distance, said players being adapted to form pockets for catching batted balls. n

14. The structure defined in claim 13, said iield players being detachable from the playing field.

15. The structure deiined in claim 13, each of said field players having a key-way formed on the bottom thereof for releasable engagement with studs projecting from said playing ield. l

16 In a toy ball game apparatus, an upstanding vertically pivoted lug adapted to be turned in one direction to put the same under ing field and a catcher adapted t0 catch a pitched ball, said catcher comprising an upstanding lug secured to said playing field, a member forming the body of said catcher and adapted to be releasably and frictionally en-l gaged with said lug, and arms secured to said member and orming a basket or catching a ball, whereby said catcher canv be attached.

to or removed from said playing field.

18. In a toy ball game apparatus, a playing field, a pitcher holding` plate mounted on said field, latch securing means on said plate, a pitcher figure having a base portion adapted to be releasably secured in said latch securing means, and means for operating said` pitcher figure to cause the same to pitch a ball.

InV testimonywhereof I aiiix my signature.

JOHNv A. EKELUND. 

